Five thoughts heading into the 2018 high school football regular season:

1. Vero Beach's roll

The numbers are mind-boggling: Four consecutive district titles, 43 consecutive regular-season wins, 14 straight district wins, one home loss in the past four seasons and 12 playoff berths in a row. You wonder just how long the Fighting Indians can maintain this level of excellence. A season-opening test at 2017 Class 7A state champion Venice should provide an early answer.

2. The new class

Six area high schools – seven, if you count The Nation Christian Academy’s inaugural team – have first-year coaches. So which of the group will break from the pack? Let’s go with Fort Pierce Westwood’s Chris Hutchings, who took Central and John Carroll to a combined five playoff berths in eight seasons and inherits a Panthers team that won its first district title since 2010. Westwood last won consecutive district titles in 2007-08.

3. Passing fancy

Vero Beach's Nick Celidonio (2,079 yards) gave the Fighting Indians their seventh 2,000-yard passing season in as many years under coach Lenny Jankowski. Sebastian River’s Shea Spencer (1,669) also is back, but the real question might be whether Martin County’s George Johnson gets his third 1,000-yard passing season, second 1,000-yard receiving year or first 1,000-yard rushing finish. He’s going to be used nearly everywhere this season, so anything seems possible.

4. Most to prove

St. Lucie West Centennial. The Eagles broke out on offense behind Nick Barnes' area-best 2,270 passing yards last season and were the surprise story to start 2017. After a 3-0-1 start, the Eagles won only once the rest of the way and finished 4-5-1. With key returning players and a wave of transfers, the Eagles appear ready to take another step forward in 2018. The offense will need time to settle in without the graduated Barnes, but the defense was top-shelf in a preseason win against Astronaut. Bet You Didn't Know: The Eagles' last season with more than five wins was 2003.

5. Worth noting

The Nation Christian Academy gives the area its 14th active varsity football program and 20th all-time.

Port St. Lucie last had consecutive winning seasons in 1990-91. The 1992 Jaguars also won seven games, but forfeited two because of an ineligible player to finish 5-5. The jaguars also will try to snap a 27-year streak of missing the playoffs.

Three of the area's top four running backs graduated, leaving Port St. Lucie's Montavious Yearby as the only returning 1,000-yard rusher.